Solar panel subsidies in Spain and how to access them

Consuming renewable energy in a private capacity is becoming easier thanks to the various solar panel subsidies that we can find today. And it is that, for years, as a society, we have been aware of and concerned about the environment. An environment that we are destroying with years and years of corrosive practices, which could endanger the survival of human beings on earth as we know it. This fact has marked not only a large part of society, but has transcended to the highest political levels that are also committed to an ecological transition in the short-medium term.

For this reason, in this article we would like to talk about one of the measures that can arouse the most appeal among Bluetti customers or any family, company or neighborhood community that wants to take advantage of any of the solar panel aids that are available. And thus, in addition to contributing to reducing the carbon footprint, this change in energy consumption will mean savings on the electricity bill.

In this article we want to show you all the possibilities that exist and the different types of solar panel aid that you can receive. However, it is essential to be clear about two things:

1. Aids and subsidies for solar panels available are managed by the City Council and the Autonomous Community. At the end of the article we leave you the direct links of each community where you can find information.
2. Many of the solar panel installation companies also help you manage and apply for subsidies. So finding a good installation company could make the whole process easier for you.

Who can access the current subsidies for self-consumption?

We are going to start with one of the first questions that arise and that is: who can access these 'Solar panel aids'? Normally, the aid that is launched tends to discriminate by sectors or tax forms. That is to say, there are aids, for example, aimed solely at the self-employed, others aimed at companies, others for individuals and thus they are distinguished. However, in this case, these are aids and subsidies for self-consumption that can be accessed by almost all of these existing tax forms:

• Individuals
• Freelancers
• Public administrations
• Companies
• Communities of owners

What solar installation grant is currently available?

* We would like to remind you that the aid packages and subsidies for self-consumption are constantly changing, modifying and updating, so the information in this article is the one that appears as of October 13, 2022 .

Currently there are different lines of subsidy and aid that can be requested for photovoltaic installation:

• Distributions in the Tax on Real Estate (IBI) and on the Tax on constructions, installations and works (ICIO).
• Deductions in personal income tax.
• European fund aid within the framework of the 'Plan for recovery, transformation and resilience'.

These grants are managed by each Autonomous Community, so one of the first actions to be carried out will be to check that your community has submitted a specific call for these lines.

IBI and ICIO bonuses

The payment of these taxes could be reduced to 50%, in the case of the IBI, and up to 95%, in the case of the ICIO. But as we said at the beginning, this percentage and the duration of the tax subsidy will depend on each City Council. And, in the case of the Real Estate Tax, it is a tax that is paid annually and it is likely that the subsidy you receive will last more than one year.

IRPF deduction

When making the income statement we can also take advantage of a deduction of up to 20% in the installation of solar panels. But in this case, the requirement that the applicant must be the owner of the house or dwelling must be met and that the installation of the plates must be done by one of the authorized companies.

As with the previous tax rebates, the personal income tax deduction also depends on the CCAA, so the ideal is to find out about it at the town hall itself.

Recovery, transformation and resilience plan

After the health crisis experienced in 2020, certain aid funds were allocated from Europe to community countries with the idea of ​​creating a sustainable future within the reach of all citizens. In Spain, the 'Plan for recovery, transformation and resilience' was created, a roadmap that outlines actions for the recovery and modernization of the economy of our country .

This roadmap establishes six programs through which grants are awarded:

1. Self-consumption and storage in the service sector.
2. Self-consumption and storage in other productive sectors, such as industry or agriculture.
3. Incorporation of storage in existing self-consumption in economic sectors.
4. Self-consumption and storage in the residential sector, the public sector and the third sector.
5. Incorporation of self-consumption storage in the residential sector, public sector and third sector.
6. Air conditioning and sanitary hot water obtained with renewables in the residential sector, including subsidized public housing.

If I want to do an installation at home, which program is more beneficial?

For individuals who want an installation with or without storage batteries, it is interesting to focus on program number 4 of 'Self-consumption and storage in the residential sector, the public sector and the third sector'

In case you already have a facility and what you want is to expand storage, you would be interested in focusing on program 5 of 'Incorporation of self-consumption storage in the residential sector, public sector and third sector'

How much money could I get from these grants?

If you have a 10 kWp installation, the amount could be around €500 - €600 for each kWp you have in your solar panels and for the batteries we will get €500 for each kWh.

Take into account that for installations with more kilowatt peaks, specifically, more than 10 kWp, they will be eligible for a subsidy of €300 - €450 per kWp. That is, the larger facilities, the less bonus they could receive.

This is because the main objective is to encourage small installations in family residences.

In addition to the above scales, when applicants are in populations at risk of depopulation, additional aid of €55 kWp and €15 per kWh in battery will be added.

Autonomous Communities in which calls have been submitted with links to the procedure

As we have been saying since the beginning of the article, the most important thing to benefit from solar panel subsidies is to know if your Autonomous Community has carried out the pertinent procedures. So the first thing you can do is investigate the official channels of each CC. AA and know what solar panel aid you can receive. We leave you below the direct and official links where we have found information referring to solar panel subsidies in each Autonomous Community.

1. The Balearic Islands
2. Castile and Leon
3. Aragon
4. Asturias
5. Galicia
6. Valencia
7. Basque Country
8. Madrid
9. Extremadura
10. Andalusia
11. Canary Islands
12. Castile - La Mancha
13. Cantabria
14. Catalonia
15. Navarre
16. Murcia
17. La Rioja

Help for the implementation of batteries

Within the aid for a photovoltaic installation we can also find support lines for the implementation of batteries. They can be requested both in existing installations to make an extension or in new installations with panels and inverter.

In this case, we must take into account that the most important requirement, according to the latest changes in Royal Decree 377/2022 linked to self-consumption and storage, is that the battery power does not exceed 5 times the peak power installed in the panels . That is, if we have a 5 kW panel installation, at most you can install a 10 kWh battery installation.

Do I really need to apply for solar panel aid?

This question is frankly interesting because anyone who has asked the State for help or subsidies of any kind in the past knows that these imply a great burden of bureaucratic and administrative processes that must be presented to be granted such aid. In this case, it is a very personal matter that, depending on the available time you have, the budget for the photovoltaic installation and, ultimately, the patience you have to start the whole process, can be a good alternative or not.

In any case we would like to highlight two key points as a conclusion:

• Currently some of the companies that do the installation of solar panels also help you manage the relevant solar panel aids or subsidies so that everything would be easier.
• You can also find specific managers who advise you throughout the application process.
• Solar panels are an investment that, even without subsidies or aid, are profitable in a period of 4 or 5 years, taking into account the current cost of energy.